A 17-year-old Nuxalk athlete’s basketball dreams are up in the air after BC School Sports declared the young man ineligible to play in December.
Jacob Va, who lives in Bella Coola with his grandparents Archie and Dorothy Pootlass, went to a basketball tournament in Williams Lake in early December with the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School senior boys basketball team.
But when he went to play, Jacob was told BC School Sports rules made him ineligible. The rule reportedly cited was the number of years playing. However, Pootlass and the team coach Sony Legeault both have said Jacob only played tournaments in the sport for a few years, far less than the five year limit. According to both Pootlass and Legault, the young athlete had missed getting to play in Grade 10 due to Covid and Legault said during Jacob’s Grade 8 year the team didn’t play because the coach became ill. Jacob is finishing up credits for Grade 12 to graduate after missing a lot of school during his first try at Grade 12. Jacob had skipped a grade when he was younger, which is why, despite it being his second attempt at Grade 12, he is just 17.
Pootlas has written a letter and filed an appeal with BC School Sports, noting the recommendation for supporting Indigenous participation in physical activity and sport in the Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Sport Recommendations. Pootlass had not yet received a response from BC School Sports.
The team’s next game will be Jan. 5 in Prince George, but the BC School Sports’ office is closed until Jan. 9.
Black Press Media reached out for comment and had not heard back as of press time.
They both just want to see the young man able to participate in the sport he loves while he still can. Pootlass even hopes it might open up opportunities for the young man to go on to post-secondary education.
“He’s enjoying life and basketball is a big part of who he is today,” said his grandfather, who said preventing him from doing what Jacob cared about reminded him of his own youth in residential school and not being able to speak his language or practice his culture as part of his own identity.
He said Jacob doesn’t drink or do drugs.
“He’s just an awesome player,” he said, and he had hoped the young man might be able to be seen by scouts from post-secondary institutions.
“If he’s allowed to play it could have far-reaching benefits to him in the future.”
Legault also argued the importance of allowing the young man to participate in sport. With Jacob having moved from living in Vancouver and spending his Grade 12 year in the small community of Bella Coola, Legault said it is important for young people to have healthy activities.
“It’s kind of harsh for a kid,” he said of not being able to compete with the team. While the rules may exist to prevent “stacking” a team, Legault said this is unrealistic when talking about such a small school. He said Sir Alexander Mackenzie Secondary is likely the smallest or one of the smallest in their division.
He also pointed out how due to the remoteness and distances to travel, the team only gets about half the games other schools do. While most in their division play as many as 20 games, Legault said their team will usually only play about 10, with the closest competition being in Williams Lake, which is a long, hard drive in the winter.
Despite being ruled ineligible, Jacob continues to travel with the team, practice and help with fundraising for their travel.
READ MORE: Cariboo towns face re-volt over ice cleaning